Debates of 23 Jun 2005

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:17 a.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon. Members, if there are any corrections to be made to the Votes and Proceedings, we shall take them now. Page 1. . . Page 13. Hon. Members, it appears that the Votes and Proceedings as recorded are the true reflection of what took place yesterday. Hon. Member, do you wish to make any correction?
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my name has been misspelled here or wrongly written here again -- page 13, “Committee on Members Holding Office of Profit”, my name is “Kofi Frimpong” and not “K. O. Frimpong”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
I remember
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 10:17 a.m.
There is an hon.
Member known as “K. O. Frimpong”.
Mr. D. H. Yeboah 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, column 1048, second paragraph -- “If we acknowledge this fact, then it behoves ‘on us' not “behoves us” .
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
That is
fair enough. That would be all for the 16th June Official Report. We have the Friday's, 17th June issue of the Official Report as well. I believe you have your copies. Do we go through that as well? No corrections? That would be all for the Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
We move on to Public Business --
Questions.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
I do not
have the Official Report of yesterday. I only have the Order Paper for today. So I cannot go back to that. What do you want me to do? You say you were scheduled to ask your Question today and it has rather been put off till tomorrow?
Mr. Hodogbey 10:17 a.m.
Yes, it was scheduled
for today, but it has been removed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Deputy
Majority Leader?
Mr. A. o. Aidooh 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
understand the Answer is yet to come. The Answer to the Question is not yet ready.
Alhaji Mubarak 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
You are ready to ask your Question today and
Alhaji Mubarak 10:17 a.m.
It is not also on
tomorrow's Provisional Order Paper.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Yes,
Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr. A. o. Aidooh 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am
sure that it may be for the same reason.
Ms. Akua Dansua 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I would have thought that in situations like this our Colleagues on the other side would liaise with us so that we can also inform our Colleagues as to what the situation is so that we do not come to the Chamber and start asking these questions.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
I think
it is the Majority Leader's responsibility to do so.
Mr. A. o. Aidooh 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, these
are mostly handled by the officers; they do not come to our notice readily. Whenever we get them in good time, then we shall inform them.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
That is
fair enough.
oRAL ANSWERS To QUESTIoNS
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS 10:17 a.m.

Minister for Communications (Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah) 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the expansion of fixed-line telephone services
by Ghana Telecom is based on the roll-out plan of the company. With respect to the Dodowa project site preparation to deploy GSM services from Ghana Telecom at Dodowa is in fact underway.
Progress of implementat ion is hampered by the unavailability of power for commercial use in the area. All efforts are being made to get power to the site as early as possible. And if this problem is resolved, it is forecast that both GT fixed and mobile telephone facilities will be activated at Dodowa by the end of July 2005. Mr. Speaker, meanwhile, Spacefon GSM mobile service is already available in the area.
Mr. Assumeng 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, based on the Answer, do the people of Dodowa take it that in one month's time, telecommunication services would be available at Dodowa?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
The
Question is already answered. Do you have any other question to ask?
Mr. Assumeng 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want an assurance from the Minister that by the end of July telecommunications -- [Interruption.] I want assurance from the Minister. That is all.
Mr. Abuga Pele 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon. Pele,
I would not allow that question.
Mr. Pele 10:17 a.m.
Please, I am coming to the
question itself.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
I have
just disallowed a similar question. He has given an answer and you are asking
for assurance.
Mr. Pele 10:17 a.m.
Not in relation to his
constituency, but a similar undertaking.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
You will
bring it back here again. Ask a question relating to your constituency. If he has given a similar undertaking and he has not fulfilled it, you know what to do appropriately.
Mr. S. A. Kwao 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister has said in his Answer that all efforts are being made to get power to the site as early as possible. I want to ask the hon. Minister who are making those efforts.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is
the clear responsibility of Ghana Telecom to ensure that there will be power available in the area that they have selected. The problem seems to be that the attempt has been made by Ghana Telecom to get the electricity extension but the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had difficulty providing them with the service. The answer to his question is that the effort is being made by Ghana Telecom.
Mr. Kwao 10:30 a.m.
The Minister has said
that site preparation to deploy GSM services from Ghana Telecom at Dodowa is underway. Does that mean that the site has been acquired already?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Yes, indeed Mr. Speaker, the site has been acquired and as the hon. Member for the area can confirm, construction work is going on very actively.
Mr. Alfred W. G. Abayateye 10:30 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I want to ask the hon. Minister what assistance his Ministry is giving to Ghana Telecom through the Ministry of Energy to get the power to the place. How is the Minister for Communications

helping Ghana Telecom to go to the Ministry of Energy to get power to the place?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Very well. Hon. Minister, what assistance are you giving to your sister Ministry of Energy to ensure that electricity is in place?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
once the equipment have been bought, as indeed, we have purchased for this Dodowa Project, if it is not being used, Ghana Telecom is losing lots of money. Therefore, they do everything in their power to get the electricity connection. Ghana Telecom has normally not found it necessary to enlist the support of the Ministry to get the Electricity Company of Ghana to provide them with electricity services.
If any such request is made, we will intervene. But I can assure him that Ghana Telecom on their own are making all efforts to get the power extended to the area. And indeed, if it is any assurance to the hon. Member, I want to inform him that I will add my wit to it and make sure that the promise that has been made here -- July, 2005 -- is in fact achieved.
Mr. Abayateye 10:30 a.m.
All what I want the
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
You have
already asked that question and the answer had been given. If you do not have any other question let me give the floor to someone else.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
He did not say he is making the effort.
Alhaji Dauda 10:30 a.m.
But I suspect --
because he provided the Answer he did -- Because he provided the Answer, I assume that he is making the effort and indeed -- [Interruptions] -- That is why he came to Answer the Question. Mr. Speaker, what I want to find out is whether the power he is looking for will be affordable for the project.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, the
hon. Minister is very, very familiar with the word “affordable” so he will give an answer.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that utility services should be offered at affordable rates, which is not to say that they should also be rendered at prices that will cause the provider of the service to make losses. So a careful balance ought to be drawn between the two as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government has consistently demons- trated that it is possible to draw that balance.
Mr. Charles S. Hodogbey 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is, when a GSM facility or service is established, what is the radial extent before it stops?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
That is an interesting question. It depends on a lot of factors but can you brief the House?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it
does of course, depend on the booster station that they will put around the area and again it will depend on equipment that they are deploying in a particular area. I am not very sure whether a standard answer can be available for this.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
We move on to the next Question which stands in the name of the hon. Member for Yilo Krobo.
Mr. Kwao 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is caught up in traffic and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Go ahead, hon. Member.
Telecommunication Services to Somanya
Mr. S. A. Kwao (on behalf of Mr. Raymond A. Tawiah) asked the Minister for Communications when telecommuni- cation services would be extended to Somanya.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the hon. Member that GSM mobile service is presently available at Somanya covering both the One-touch Service operated by Ghana Telecom and that operated by Spacefon. In the case of Ghana Telecom, a new site is planned for Somanya in order to improve the coverage, increase capacity and enhance quality in service delivery. But for the moment, fixed cellular telephone (FCT) terminals are available in the area. In the case of Dodowa, GT is considering the use of wireless technology to complement the capacity provided by the existing network.
Mr. Kwao 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, pertaining to the Answer given by the hon. Minister, I think there is a telecommunication facility at Odumase Krobo. Will it not be possible for him to complete that one to serve the needs of Somanya whilst they wait for their new site?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I obviously need to talk to the technical people at Ghana Telecom why they have not found it necessary to go the way that you suggested.
Mr. Kwao 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think last year I put up a similar Question to
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not quite remember the specific instance but the roll-out plans of Ghana Telecom were considerably delayed last year following a court case that was instituted by the minority shareholders against the importation of the equipment that was needed. The case has now been finally cleared. Most of the equipment has indeed now arrived. So it should be possible to meet deadlines that are being given now. Their inability to meet those deadlines in the past was because there was a court case that prevented Ghana Telecom from bringing the materials into the country.
Ms. Akua Dansua 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the hon. Minister said that in the case of Dodowa, GT is considering the use of wireless technology to complement the capacity. I would want to know from the hon. Minister how long it would take GT to consider this option and when actual implementation works would begin.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
specific Answer that we got from Ghana Telecom is that they are planning to have a new site at Somanya, which would increase capacity and quality of service. I would need to make further consultations
Mr. Sallas-Mensah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in
the hon. Minister's Answers, he talked about the cellular and wireless telephones. I would want to find out when fixed landlines would come to the Somanya area.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the fixed cellular terminals that I mentioned, allow these communities to have fixed line services using the mobile technology -- [Interruption] -- Yes, using wireless technology. So that is a new technology that has come that permits the use of the mobile equipment for the “020” also to have fixed line services in our homes and in our offices. This is what we mean by the fixed cellular terminals -- [Interruption] -- Well, no. It will not be more expensive.
Ghana Telecom's Mast at Gambaga
Mr. John D. Mahama (on behalf of Mr. Joseph Yaani Labik) asked the Minister for Communications when Ghana Telecom's mast at Gambaga, which was installed about 20 years ago would become operational.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is our policy to encourage the telephone operators to provide telephone access to every part of the country. And one key ingredient is that they need to modernize and upgrade the quality of telephone infrastructure as well as the quality of delivery to international standards.
In this vein, they concede that the facility at Gambaga needs to be upgraded. And a new digital link was installed in Gambaga only last week, 14th June 2005. This having been done, it is expected that GSM mobile service would be available at Gambaga, latest by the end of July, this year.
Mr. Mahama 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in all the
Answers of the hon. Minister, he speaks about GSM and fixed cellular telephoning using wireless technology. Mr. Speaker, Ghana Telecom has been set a target to provide four hundred thousand broadband lines in three years. Mr. Speaker, we are talking of fixed broadband lines. When are these fixed lines going to be made available? Has GSM and fixed cellular terminals become the first option of choice for the Ministry or fixed lines are still the first option?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is right in saying that Ghana Telecom has specific targets to meet. These targets are not only for the GSM mobile service but also for the fixed line services. Ghana Telecom is very much aware of this obligation and I do not believe that they have abandoned altogether the fixed line services in favour of the GSM mobile service. If the hon. Member wants an update on the specific plans that Ghana Telecom are making to meet the targets with regard to the fixed line services, I would be happy to do so if a Question is asked.
Mr. John A. Ndebugre 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon.
Member for Zebilla, maybe, I would permit that but you appeared to have hijacked the Question. The supple- mentary nature of it should relate to the
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is
not just the intention of the Government to extend telephone services to all district capitals. In actual fact, our plans are much more ambitious than that. We have indicated that we would want to extend telephone services not only to the district capitals but also to places where there are police stations, where there are clinics, where there are schools; we would certainly want to do that. And we believe that we are very much on course.
But for the court case that we had to go through last year, I am sure the targets would have been achieved. But the court case is now over. Most of the equipment have arrived. I am pretty certain that if the hon. Member gives me a couple of hours, if he calls me some time today, I would be able to tell him the exact plans that we have for Zebilla. I can assure him that they would have it much earlier than he is probably thinking of.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon.
Member for Zebilla, are you not lucky?
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (rtd.): Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister's answers portray a clear trend that fixed cellular telephone lines are now the options for the moment. I would like to know from him how compatible these are to the use of the internet.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the fixed cellular terminal technology is not just the choice of Ghana. It is certainly the choice of the whole world, and I can also confirm that, yes, you can get the internet connectivity through the quick service cellular terminals.

Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (rtd.):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister when Ghana Telecom would make internet facility available on the One-touch.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I want you to draw hon. Paa Kwesi Nduom's attention to the fact that the House is in session.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Have you
finish asking your question?
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (rtd.): Mr.
Speaker, my question is when will Ghana Telecom make internet facility available on the One-touch?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
And he
has already given an answer.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (rtd.): No,
Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
He has
not?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Spacefon, in fact, is now on a trial basis, providing internet connectivity through the 024. I am not aware of the plans of Ghana Telecom as far as the 020 is concerned. I will need to contact them to find out and convey to my hon. Friend when he is not speaking on telephone in the House.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister in his Answer, said that the Government's policy of providing telephone access to every part of the country is to modernise and upgrade the quality of telephone infrastructure as well as the quality of delivery. Mr. Speaker, my question is, what is the Ministry doing about this problem whereby when you call
you are told “out of coverage area” when the person is just next to you or his phone is not switched off? What is his Ministry doing about this problem?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
That
question is unrelated, but maybe since he is here we take advantage of his being here to ask that question.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a
couple of reasons account for that, but basically, the difficulty is that most of these companies are now rebuilding their networks and inevitably when they are rebuilding, these are some of the problems that we have to live with.
Mr. Speaker, we are all aware of the investment that is being undertaken at Ghana Telecom at the moment. Spacefon also has just gone for a huge facility to modernise its network. You must have read from the newspapers yesterday that Kasapa has just done a similar thing, and indeed, Millicom also has done a similar thing. While they are rebuilding and modernising, I think we will continue to have some of these problems.
But Mr. Speaker, if it is any consolation, they do have some standards to meet and when they do not meet it penalties are levied on them by the National Communications Authority. In the past, very heavy penalties had been put on Westel and also Ghana Telecom.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon.
Members, we move on to the next and final Question; and that stands in the name of hon. John Gyetuah of Amenfi West constituency.
Telecommunication Network at Asankrangwa
Q. 96. Mr. John Gyetuah asked the Minister for Communications when the
telecommunication network at Asan- krangwa would be improved.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we concede that the quality of the existing telephone service at Asankrangwa is very bad, as a result of which Ghana Telecom has planned to site a repeater station at Anakum. When this project is executed, it will help expand digital transmission to Asankrangwa. The project is planned to be completed by November, 2005.
Mr. Gyetuah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister precisely when work on the repeater station would be commenced.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in order not to give a misleading answer, I will need to consult Ghana Telecom to know exactly when the construction will commence as the hon. Member has asked.
Mr. Gyetuah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister whether he is aware that there are only eight phone booths at Asankrangwa and out of these, only six are functional? What steps is he taking to ensure that those phone booths are rehabilitated?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that there are only eight booths at Asankrangwa, but what I do know is that the service in the area is supposed to be very, very, bad and that efforts are being made to improve upon it.
Mr. John Mahama 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in all the Minister's answers he speaks of Ghana Telecom and Spacefon and other operators. Mr. Speaker, we have a licensed Second National Operator (SNO). What is the status of the roll-out of the SNO and what is the Ministry doing to ensure that the SNO lives up to its obligations?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we
have had several legal problems to sort out with the second licensed operator, which problems in fact started even before we come to power. It has taken quite some time to resolve it, but I want to believe that we would not need more than about two weeks to finally sign agreements which would bring these long-standing disagreements to a close.
Mr. F. A. Agbotse 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when the Leader of this House, hon. Felix Owusu-Adjapong was Minister for Communications, he came to this House and promised the House a roll-out from Telenor. This was confirmed by my hon. Friend, hon. Kan-Dapaah, Minister for Communications. In view of the number of questions that have been asked today, when is this roll-out coming to Parliament?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there was a considerable delay in the roll-out plans of Ghana Telecom as a result of a court case that was instituted by the minority shareholders of Ghana Telecom. It took quite a long time, more than twelve months to resolve this matter. While the matter was in court, Ghana Telecom was prevented from taking delivery of the equipment which was needed to embark upon the roll-out plans. The matter has now been resolved. Most of the equipment have arrived and it will now be possible to meet the roll-out plans that were communicated to this House by hon. Owusu-Adjapong and subsequently confirmed by me.
And Mr. Speaker, i f i t is any confirmation, the hon. Member is very much aware that we are on course and he has had cause to congratulate us for the good work that we are doing with regard to the roll-out plans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's answer to a question, he
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. Member who initially asked this Question, hon. John Mahama must be laughing in his head as to why he has asked this Question. Mr. Speaker, we said in the press that we have resolved our problems with Telecom Malaysia in Ghana Telecom. The Question that the hon. Member asked was with respect to Westel. Westel and Ghana Telecom, if you check from the Registrar-General's Department, are two different companies. So we are talking about totally two different companies.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the question that was put to him, he mentioned Westel, and I know the difference between Westel, Telecom Malaysia and Ghana Telecom, so his response was with regard to the question posed in connection with Westel, that it will take two weeks to have it resolved -- He did not talk about Telecom Malaysia.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
So hon. E. T. Mensah are you -- [Interruption.]
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the point is that is he misleading us because he is saying that it has been resolved but he has almost said that it will be resolved in two weeks; so which is which?
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not very sure of what exactly he is talking about but we have had quite a couple of problems with Westel, one of which was to do with penalty that we levied on them. That has been resolved but another problem also arose with respect to the
spectrum licence fee that they needed to pay. That is of recent origin and that is what I said is just about to be completed. As the hon. Member will concede, it has not been part of the practice of our people to mislead this House on such important issues. So there was no attempt to mislead; all the assurances that were given were, in fact, very genuine assurances.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
I think that will bring us to the end of Question time. Hon. Ministers, thank you very much for making time to come and answer Questions from hon. Members of this House.
We now move on to Statements. Hon. Members, we have a couple of Statements here.
STATEMENTS 11 a.m.

Mr. J. K. Hackman (NPP -- Gomoa West) 11 a.m.
Rt. Hon. Speaker, two days ago, 20th June, marked the commemoration of World Refugee Day. It is a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to remind ourselves of the plight of the refugee and also intensify our efforts in finding solutions to the problem.
Rt. Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana I wish to commend the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for their tireless efforts in trying to stem the refugee problem around the world as well as the various governments, non- governmental organizations and civil society for their continuous show of support, concern and sacrifice in the management of refugees.
Mr. Speaker, deliberations on World Refugee Day often centre on solutions to the refugee problem as well as what can be done to improve current methods of
handling refugees. We, however, seem to forget about the human suffering which accompanies the problem as well acknowledge the sacrifices of men and women whose efforts go a long way to reduce the burden of the refugee.
Mr. Speaker, the factors which lead to refugee situation are carried but the net result is the dislocation of families and societies. Economic development in countries affected by refugee situations are adversely affected.
Our continent has not been spared the problems associated with refugees. In Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia people have had to move out of their countries as refugees for one reason or the other. It is, however, heartening to note the positive efforts being made to ensure that refugees are able to return to their countries of origin on resolution of the problems, which lead to the creation of the refugee situation in the first instance.
In our subregion, refugees are returning to Liberia and Sierra Leone voluntarily. It is my hope that as such persons return, they will set aside whatever personal grievances they might have had and support in the rebuilding of their countries. We need to move forward as a people. Africa cannot and should not continue to be described as a “lost case”.
To our brothers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and other countries who are here as refugees, I wish to appeal to them to be law-abiding and not engage themselves in any activities detrimental to the security of this country or their countries. I understand some of the feelings and sentiments that they have when they cast their minds back on what made them refugees. Vengeance should not be theirs. Their efforts should be directed at ensuring that whatever
Mr. J. K. Hackman (NPP -- Gomoa West) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of this year's World Refugee Day celebration, I wish to appeal to our development partners to take greater note of the economic effects of refugees on developing countries which host refugees. While such countries endeavour to do whatever they can to make the lives of refugees as comfortable as possible, this has to be viewed against their dire economic status. Our development partners should thus provide greater economic and technical support to host developing countries for them to be able to manage refugees without adversely affecting their own economic develop- ment programmes.
One other way through which our development partners can assist in the management of refugees is in the provision of skills to refugees so that they can be useful citizens once they return to their countries of origin.
Mr. Speaker, I call on all governments to join hands and support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in finding solutions to the diverse problems which lead to the refugee situation and its management.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. charles S. Hodogbey (NDC -- North Tongu) Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to comment on the Statement on refugees.

Refugee situation in any country

is dependent upon failure to follow democratic principles and poor governance which leads to insurgence. Our leaders normally would wish to stay in power even when their tenure, which has been established by the Constitution, is over. An example is Chad.

In today's newspaper, the Chad Government is trying to change their constitution so that the two terms prescribed is changed to three terms. When a group of people from such a country begin to see that a government in power is changing the constitution and they rise against the government, it leads to insurgence and the poor people who do not have anywhere to go begin to spill over from that country to another country.
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 11:10 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member on the other side of the House who has the floor will do us a lot of good if he is able to tell us the newspaper -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Are you rising on a point of order or you want to ask the hon. Member questions?
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
And what is your point of order?
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying that the hon. Member who just spoke is misleading the House by not telling us the newspaper he is talking about.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
You are out of order -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Hodogbey 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is on page 5 of today's Daily Graphic. I am saying that if our leaders would follow the principles which brought them to power, then the rise against governments and other things happening will stop and Africa will be a peaceful place to live in.
Mr. A. K. Mensah 11:10 a.m.
(NPP -- Abura/ Asebu/Kwamankese): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Statement.
I am concerned about the sitting of the camps for the refugees. The refugee situation is inevitable as long as countries in our subregion are engaged in wars and what have you. But when you take, for instance, those that have been camped at Budumbura in the Gomoa District in the Central Region, near Kasoa and for that matter near the national capital Accra here, very often armed robbers engage in nefarious activities around that area, hiding behind these people.
It can happen that some of them would also join them to do such things, and the area then becomes a threat to national security. So I am suggesting that in future when we want to camp these people they should be camped at a place where the security of the nation is not threatened, and for that matter they should be sent to maybe the hinterland where there will be no need for intense security. That is my contribution.
Deputy Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City (Mr. S. Asamoah-Boateng): Mr. Speaker, I was wondering where in the hinterland my hon. Colleague was referring to but we will rest the matter there.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak in support of the Statement on the floor at the moment.
The World Refugee Day is very significant to me in particular because I was once a refugee -- [Interruptions.] I do not know whether hon. Akua Dansua has been a refugee before but when one is forced out of his or her country into exile, it is the most difficult thing to comprehend. Ever since they started the World Refugee
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Lee Ocran, are you rising on a point of order? And what is your point, hon. Member?
Mr. Ocran 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is a difference between “economic exile”, “political exile” and “a refugee”; and so I do not know which one my hon. Colleague belongs to. [Interruptions.]
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is bent on distracting me but I am not going to listen to him --[Laughter.] Mr. Speaker, I just want to support the Statement by saying that refugees all over the world are people who have lost their homes and those who have been driven away and who need the support of the world community; and I am glad that we in Ghana have over the years given support and provided homes to various people from all over the world, especially during the independence struggle; there were a lot of Africans living in Ghana during the apartheid regime. The support and assistance we offered made Ghana a home for most black people and today when we talk about coming back to Africa most black people see Ghana as a home for them. And so that kind of support must be given to all refugees wherever you find them.
As I said, when I was outside, I had the support of Ivorians whom I had never met before and who provided all the assistance and gave me all the support I needed. Although I and my hon. Colleagues were a bit far away from home we felt at home as well and I would take this opportunity
to thank them very much for the support they gave to some of us.
But going beyond that, I listened to contributions from my hon. Colleagues and they were talking about the refugee situation in the country with our colleagues from the West African Coast coming to be with us. It is a good sign that we are providing them support, but we must also be able to educate and make them integrate if they want to live in Ghana and be part of our society, unless of course they want to go back. If they want to go back, then we should encourage them and help them to go back.
But those who want to stay and they have been given all the status and whatever and they are staying with us, they must understand our culture, they must understand the way we live and they must be able to conform to the way we live so that they do not become a problem for some of my hon. Colleagues to suggest that they must be moved far away from the city.
We do not have to make our refugees feel unwanted; they are like us except that they have problems in their own countries and so we should provide them with all the support that we can offer them. But of course, the objective must be to prepare and encourage them to return home and make their home countries safer for them to live in.
On this note, I think we should salute all the agencies and institutions involved in supporting refugees. They have done a yeoman's job and I think we all need to commend them and help to prevent people moving away from their countries.
Let us try and make it possible for people to remain in their countries politically, economically and socially. Let them feel that the country they belong to belongs to all of them and that if some people come to drive them away, either
Mr. S. K. B. Manu (NPP -- Ahafo Ano South) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my hon. Colleagues in thanking and congratulating all agencies which have taken the plight of refugees to be theirs and have been helping them in diverse ways.
Mr. Speaker, when we talk about refugee issues one would like to know how it comes about. I understand that sometimes natural disasters or something like that could bring about the refugee status on some people; but principally refugees are made out of greedy politicians who want to either amass wealth at the expense of their compatriots and chase them out of the country.
Mr. Speaker, we also have situations where ethnic cleansing has been the thinking of some politicians and as a result they cause others to flee their countries; and these people find themselves in strange lands where they seek refuge.
Mr. Speaker, in all these, it is normally the aged, women and children who are vulnerable; so when we are talking about World Refugee Day we have to take into account the plight of these categories of people -- the aged, women and children -- who suffer most in times of crises.
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to talk about the host countries that receive these refugees. Out of magnanimity and in accordance with international law and principles some countries receive refugees. But Mr. Speaker, the attitude of some refugees when they get to these host countries is something that we have to consider. We find some of them engaging in anti-social activities, such as armed
Mr. Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement that has been made on the World Refugee Day.
Mr. Speaker, this day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the refugee issue globally, on our continent and in particular within our own subregion.
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt, from the earlier contributions, that there are risks involved in our country having become a recipient of a large number of refugees
Mr. Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that we, as a nation, have done our best in terms of the way we have received and managed refugees who have come into this country. But let us not forget that we have not achieved perfection in this regard and therefore on this day we should use the opportunity to review our performance in this area and find out whether we have taken enough steps to ensure that we strengthen the institutions that are responsible for receiving and managing the affairs of refugees.
Mr. Speaker, inasmuch as we have become a receptacle for refugees, let us not also forget that bad governance is one of the causes and we, as a nation, have done well in terms of our governance performance. In this regard I would urge that as a nation we should consider not just receiving the problems of countries that are experiencing bad governance but also constitute ourselves into exporters of good governance to those countries so that the problem does not occur there in the first place and then we would have to deal with the problem afterwards.
It is in this regard that I would urge that those who are manning our diplomacy must be very firm on one issue. They must not waver on the importance of our position when it comes to the issue of democracy, as the one clear means of ensuring that there would be good governance in those countries and that ultimately they would not be exporting problems to our country.
Mr. Speaker, on that note I would
associate myself with the Statement that has been made on this very important day.

Deputy Minister for the Interior (Capt. Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (rtd.)): Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of the Interior has oversight responsibility for the Ghana Refugee Board and we take note of all the points that have been made in connection with the World Refugee Day.

Mr. Speaker, we of the Ministry of the Interior will do the best that we can to make the life of refugees better and tolerable. Mr. Speaker, I had the unfortunate experience of following my boss, the Minister for the Interior to a refugee camp called Christian Village in the Western Region. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that this refugee centre is in the constituency of Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in fact, when I got there, the scene that I saw, my prayer was that there should not be any refugee throughout the world. Because, I saw people and they were complaining that they lived on one cup of rice a month; and the way they were talking I was just looking at them; it is very incomprehensible. In fact, I just could not understand.

But Mr. Speaker, as my hon. Colleagues have said, we who are in positions of authority, not only in Ghana but all over the African continent, should always do all that we can so as to prevent a situation where our nationals would want to flee from the land. Because, if you live in a place as a refugee, you literally cannot do anything; you just endure life and that is really terrible.

So Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of the Interior is grateful to those who made

contributions on the Statement. We will note all their points and suggestions; and we thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
That should be the end of that first Statement. We have another short Statement, this time round from the hon. Member for Ho East, hon. F. A. Agbotse.
Plight of Pensioners
Mr. F. A. Agbotse (NDC -- Ho West) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on 30th October 2002, Mr. Simon Dzani of Saviefe Gbogame in the Ho West constituency of the Volta Region received a letter from the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning through the district office of the Ghana Pensioners' Association, Ho (Volta Region). The relevant portions of the letter headed “Payment of Pension on the Basis of Consolidated Salaries” read as follows:
“1. From this Ministry's letter No. IPA 12/6 dated 18th December 1992, and from the Controller and Accountant- General's Department Letter No. CA/ADM.3035/05/04 dated 11 September 1995, pension payments were to be based on fifty per cent (50%) of the minimum point of the scale of the corresponding rank of an incumbent officer's salary.
2. In this regard, authority is hereby given for you to calculate and pay pensioners based on 50% of the minimum point of the scale of the corresponding rank of an incumbent officer's salary using the salary structure on which the pensioner retired.
3. The effective date of implementation is 1st October 2002.”
With confidence Mr. Simon Dzani made several visits to his bankers in Kpedze without success. Finally, in December
Mr. Joseph Kwashie Gidisu (NDC -- Central Tongu) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to associate myself with the Statement.
Mr. Speaker, if we are talking about pensioners of the type that my hon. Colleague has referred to in his Statement, these are purely pensioners who have retired from the Civil Service. Mr. Speaker, other groups of workers in private organizations who go on pension with better schemes to support them do not suffer the type of agony that my hon. Colleague has referred to.
Mr. Speaker, the agony of pensioners is not only with the payment of their monthly stipend which is always in arrears, but even with the initial payment. It takes a pensioner almost four to five months on retirement to eventually get whatever emoluments that are due him. And Mr. Speaker; when one equally looks at the situation, now that most of the workers who were formerly on the CAP 30 are now on the SSNIT Pension, one will see the paltry sum of money that these pensioners receive; and what is quite frustrating is the delay in these payments which are spread
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
We will take one more contribution.
Mr. E. K. Bandua (NDC -- Biakoye) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much for
Mr. Kwame Osei 11:40 a.m.
None

Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Statement made by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Speaker, it is a truism that going on pension in this country is a sure way of going to your grave. You go on pension and very soon you are being dispatched to your grave because pensioners are very miserable. Mr. Speaker, apart from what is paid them which is but a pittance, the process of getting it, one wonders why it takes so much time and why somebody expects somebody from Bolgatanga to travel to Accra for his pension benefits.

Mr. Speaker, and the attitude of the civil servants who would work on these pensions -- you would look at them and ask whether they would also one day go on pension, because they put the pensioners under real duress and extortion; some of them do that. I believe that those who work on this must be humane enough to know that the pensioners are people who have served this country and one day, if death does not take us away, we would all be pensioners and therefore we should have sympathy for them and show some kindness to them.

Mr. Speaker, talking about pension there is the need for a whole revolution in the pension system in this country. In fact, across the world people earn pension based on what they did when they were young. One knows that if one is working and the state pension is not good, nothing prevents one from at least planning for the future. We should all be encouraged to do that. We know that things are hard but we should also bear in mind that one day, at a time when we cannot work hard,

things would be harder and therefore we must plan.

There are private pension schemes around. I believe that employers should encourage people to start some private pension and there should be enough regulations to regulate pension funds in this country. I think that even the state pension itself is not well regulated. If the amount of money which goes into Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is well regulated, I believe that no pensioner in this country might live in misery after going on pension.

Therefore, we must -- It is up to society. In fact, when people talk about Government, about pension, about “give us Cap 30” and this and that, Mr. Speaker, sometimes it is not easy to understand, because you cannot get what you have not earned. That is the truism about pensions across the world.

Mr. Speaker, it is in this light that I am also appealing to the Pensions Commission set up by His Excellency the President to be very diligent in their work and come out with a report which would satisfy the generality of the people. Again those who would implement it should also work very hard on it. We need to encourage long-term saving in this country so that when God allows us to live and we all go on pension we would not become miserable but we would live fruitful lives before we die.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Members, there would be one short Statement also today, it is on the Civil Service Week which is being celebrated since yesterday to the 26th of June. The Minister for Public Sector Reforms, on this occasion, would like to make a short Statement.
Eleventh Anniversary of the Africa Day of Civil Service
and Administration/ Civil Service Week
Minister for Public Sector Reforms (Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make a Statement on the occasion of the celebration of the 11th Anniversary of the Africa Day of Civil Service and Administration and also Civil Service Week which is being celebrated this week in Ghana. Mr. Speaker, on this occasion, it is a special privilege for me to recognize the unique and dedicated service provided by the hard-working men and women of the Ghana Civil Service.
I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to indicate that at the new Ministry of Public Sector Reform, we are very much aware of our responsibilities to the public sector in general and the Civil Service in particular. Since 1987, the Ghana Civil Service has been the subject of various reform efforts based on diagnoses of its strength and weaknesses. For a number of reasons, these reforms have not provided the right kind of successes that we have been looking for.
Mr. Speaker, even though fifteen years of reform may not have given us the successes required, at least, they have helped us to create a consensus on some of the issues that are required for the successful implementation of reform in the public sector. Some of these are:
The need for dedicated top level commitment within Government in order for Public Sector Reform to succeed;
That Public Sector Reform must be driven from within the agencies to be transformed;
Public Sector Reform must be viewed and implemented within a long-term perspective; and
There should be unqualified ownership and buy-in from all s takeholders -- Parl iament , Government, public servants,
civil society, workers, farmers and fishermen.
To achieve the goal of at least US$1,000 per capita income level that we have set for ourselves and also accomplish the Millennium Development Goals, it is critical that the Ghana Civil Service receives the attention and resources that it urgently requires. Because without the Civil Service performing effectively these goals would be difficult to achieve. And so I wish to urge hon. Members of Parliament to support the cause of the Civil Service and Public Sector Reform.
We have identified a number of issues whose resolution we believe will provide the impetus for the transformation of the Civil Service in Ghana. Key among them are:
The development of a Human Resource framework which will provide the right organization, leadership and motivation to civil servants;
Greater focus and resources for training and development, parti- cularly in building leadership and professionalism;
A robust Performance Management System that links reward with performance; and
A t h o r o u g h r e v i e w o f t h e organization and structure of the Civil Service to empower the service to meet the pressures of the working environment of the 21st Century.

Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that the failure to tackle the pay management issue has been a key reason for the steep decline in the performance of the Civil Service. In the past, ad hoc
Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC -- Asutifi South) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement on the floor and wish to say that it is significant to know that civil servants and public servants play a very unique role in the development of this country. They guide, they direct and they advise politicians. Because of this unique role, it is important for public and civil servants to note the nature of their work and to, as much as possible, be neutral as far as politics or partisan politics is concerned in this country.
Mr. Speaker, very often, you find public servants who are supposed to advise politicians meddling in politics, to the extent that some of them even get on to political platforms. Mr. Speaker, when this situation arises, it undermines the very basis of our Public and Civil Service institutions.
Mr. Speaker, one thing that has always been bothering my mind about public and civil servants is this: The success of every politician hinges somehow on the efforts of civil servants. We do know that politicians may not be technocrats. For instance, the Minister for Road Transport may not necessarily be an engineer and he is supposed to take advice or be guided by technocrats in the Ministry. But Mr. Speaker, very often, when work done under the Ministry is declared shoddy, the blame is put on the politician rather than directing it to the public or civil servant or the technocrat.
Mr. Speaker, I say this because, for instance, if a road is to be done, it is the public or the civil servants who do the
Mr. K. Appiah-Pinkrah (NPP -- Akrofuom) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement made by the hon. Minister for Public Sector Reforms.
Mr. Speaker, the Civil Service is the machinery that drives the Executive branch of Government and we need to congratulate them on the celebration of the Civil Service Week, which is currently ongoing. Indeed, it is pertinent to know that the Civil Service of our nation has performed creditably over the years, irrespective of the numerous constraints, impediments and other institutional weaknesses that beset the organization.
Mr. Speaker, series of reforms and restructuring exercises have taken place over the 48 years of the country's independence. Whilst these reforms move the country's Executive machinery forward, in a number of ways, it is pertinent to note that the Civil Service apparatus still requires serious improvement leading to enhanced productivity. Critical amongst the numerous problems and challenges that have been identified have been the poor working conditions, inadequate improvement in the capacity of personnel to deliver, mandated services, poor salary
structure and non-existence of other important incentive systems.
Mr. Speaker, whilst we join the personnel of the Service to celebrate the Week, I implore the House to take the appropriate steps to encourage the Executive Arm of Government, that is the Civil Service Council, the Public Services Commission, the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms to address the issues that constrain effective and efficient discharge of responsibilities by the institutions that constitute the Civil Service.
Mr. Speaker, in sharing in the celebrative joy of the Civil Service, it is also appropriate for us to also admonish the Civil Service personnel to demonstrate their preparedness to enhance their performance and therefore the productivity of the Service even in the face of seemingly difficult conditions under which they have to perform their functions to achieve the goals mandated by the State. Mr. Speaker, on this note, I congratulate the leadership of the Civil Service machinery, the Civil Servants Association and all civil servants who have committed themselves to the service of the nation over the years. Congratulations, I say, to our engine or machinery of Government.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC - Tamale South) noon
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to associate myself with the Statement on the Observance of our Civil Service Day.
Mr. Speaker, as we pay tribute to the
immense contributions that our men and women have made to our overall national development, I believe sincerely and it is my view, that any reforms whether at the area of the Civil Service or Public Service must aim at three essential issues: ensuring efficiency, increased productivity and
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC - Tamale South) noon
discipline within Ghana's Civil Service. But Mr. Speaker, there is a correlation between increased productivity and the motivation to work. It is equally important as we observe this day for the Government to take pragmatic steps to improve the conditions of service of our civil servants.

Capt. Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (rtd.):

On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my very good Friend from Tamale Central is misleading the House. He is talking about downsizing the Government through improvement or strengthening of the Civil Service. Mr. Speaker, what he does not know perhaps is that the Civil Service is not accountable to anybody, but the political authority is elected by an electorate on the basis of their manifesto to deliver.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
So what
is your point?
Capt. Effah-Dartey (rtd.): So Mr.
Speaker, my point is that whether to downsize or not to downsize it, has nothing to do with the need to strengthen the Civil Service, and to that extent, he is misleading the House.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, thank
you for your indulgence. The hon. Member is not even aware that I am not for Tamale Central but for Tamale South; and that is for his information.
My final comment on the Civil Service

Capt. Effah-Dartey (rtd.): Mr.

Speaker, he is making very dangerous assertions. Mr. Speaker, unless he is able to substantiate this, he must withdraw and apologize to the Government. We have not asked any civil servant to go on leave. So if he is saying that the NPP Government, when it took office in 2001, asked any senior civil servant to go on leave, he must give figures; he must give data, otherwise, he must withdraw and apologize to the Government because Mr. Speaker, this is a serious and a dangerous statement.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon.
Theresa Tagoe, please, take your seat. Yes, he has raised a point of order. Please take your seat, hon. Theresa Tagoe. Your Colleague has just raised a point of order. He is saying that you made some assertions --
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, I will
support my assertions with unimpeachable evidence. Indeed, the former Head of
Ghana's Civil Service, Dr. Robert Dodoo was asked to proceed on leave and is currently in the corridors of the court. There are others when the Minister for Works and Housing -- [Interruptions] - I am giving him examples. He was asked to proceed on leave. The Director for Feeder Roads was asked to proceed on leave; Mr. Prempeh, the Auditor-General was even arrested while going through church service. These are civil servants who served this country who deserve - [Interruptions.]
Mr. K. T. Hammond noon
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, it is really to clarify. Were these announcements made on air or the persons were written to?
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng noon
On a point
of order. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague is out of order. The examples he gave are cases that actually went to court and some of them have not been decided upon. The rest that he is mentioning were written to with explanations and their cases are being dealt with.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon.
Member, you are out of order; I rule you out of order.
Ms. Theresa Tagoe noon
Thank you very
much, Mr. Speaker. I want to tell that young man that he is even lucky that the people were asked to go on leave or go to court. Those people who were not asked to go on leave, were killed. Were they not?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon.
Theresa Tagoe, you are completely out of order.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, thank
you very much, for your indulgence. Mr. Speaker, I could go on. Indeed, the former Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, was also a victim of the “Proceed on Leave”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Concen-
trate on your explanation.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, essentially, I was making this remark so that as a country we would be guided but there is no perception that some people are often targeted because of their political colouration.
Mr. Hammond noon
Mr. Speaker, it
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
The point that was made by who?
Mr. Hammond noon
Bear with me, please.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon. Hammond, you said the point was made by who?
Mr. Hammond noon
My hon. Colleague,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
I overruled
him.
Mr. Hammond noon
Mr. Speaker, I am
not dealing with exactly that he said. Mr. Speaker, the point I am making is that he made an allegation; he was asked to substantiate. Mr. Speaker, he made verbal substantiation.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
You are
out of order.
Mr. Hammond noon
Mr. Speaker, is it a
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon.
Hammond, I have overruled you; you are out of order. Please, continue.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, in
Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah noon
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague stated that some were asked to go on leave because of their political affiliation and I want to remind him that civil servants are supposed to be neutral and not partisan. So they will suffer for their political leanings.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
You are also out of order.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Minister for Public Sector Reforms, I do not believe that he appreciates the magnitude of the problems in Ghana's Public Service -- low productivity, poor conditions of service. Indeed, as they embark on reforms, they will be guided by - [Interruption.]
Mr. Kofi Frimpong noon
On a point of
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
You are
out of order. Hon. Haruna continue.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, I would
like to emphasize that civil servants are there to serve all regimes and we should endeavour, whilst acknowledging the wrongdoings of the past, not to repeat them for the future and in order to build an enduring democratic system that will enhance productivity and efficiency for this country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon.
Members, that brings us to the end of Statements for the day. I understand there are a number of Committees which are holding meetings and, for that reason, I will also take the opportunity to urge you hon. Members to attend those meetings. On that note, I want to be advised by the Leadership.
Mr. A. o. Aidooh noon
Mr. Speaker, I think
that we can adjourn at this stage and come back tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Mr. H. Iddrisu noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJoURNMENT
The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.10 p.m. till, 24th June, 2005 at 10.00 a.m.